It’s Carter bobblehead day at New York this weekend and depending on which gate you enter the track from you will recieve a bobblehead of either Jimmy or Billy with your paid admission. With a huge crowd expected on hand due to the Wooden Indian Derby Prep race, the Graded action will begin in the 14th race in The Grade I Billy And Jimmy Stakes, a 7 furlong open sprint for 3YO+ offering up a purse of $350,000 for the full 14 horse field.<\/P>
Let’s take a look at today’s field:<\/P>
1)HOLLOW HALO(KY)—9\/1—<\/STRONG>nextbonus sends this 4 year old colt out of SPEIGHTSTOWN with a record of 22-9-3-3 and lifetime earnings of $340,712. He is out of the mare WHAT A BEAT(GB) who was 6\/41 at the track and who has 2 foals on record with this Graded stakes winning colt the only winner to date. This 35th divisional ranked colt races for the RASH division of the nextbonus stables. This colt ran a perfect race last time out across the tunnel in NJ while winning The Grade III Toboggan Handicap over 7 furlongs and posting a 114 speed rating just 1 point of his lifetime mark. He stalked the pace to perfection from just off the pace and then took the lead at the top of the stretch and held off some strong challengers including 1 he will be facing again today from the extreme outside post. A repeat of that race again here today would make him very tough to beat from the rail today. The rider for today’s race will be Davis (11.1%).\u00a0 PROJECTED SPEED RATING—112.<\/STRONG><\/P> 2)MRS. STARK REALITY—9\/1—<\/STRONG>stablebums sends this 6 year old mare out of MR. GREELEY with a record of 24-9-5-3 and lifetime earnings of $316,520. This 21st divisional ranked mare races for the Fun & Friends Stable Club division of the Smubs stables. Interesting choice of a start for this mare as she will race against the boys for the 4th time in her career. Her most recent came last fall with a 3rd place finish in an overnite stakes race but she did win the previous 3 races albeit against allowance company in 2006 and early 2007. Her best Graded finish was a heartbreaking photo loss in a 2nd place result in a Grade II NB sprint last year and her top speed rating of 114 was posted last fall. She took advantage to win on an off track last time out in NB and hopes to carry that momentum into her attempt to pick up her first Grade I victory here today. She is a late closer who sits at the back of the pack early, and we will have to see how she perfoms against open company today. The rider for today’s race will be Painter (7.5%).\u00a0 PROJECTED SPEED RATING—108.<\/STRONG><\/P> 3)SATAN’S STEED(KY)—9\/1—<\/STRONG>worldwide sends this 4 year old colt out of KINGMAMBO with a record of 21-7-2-2 and lifetime earnings of $207,126. This 65th divisional ranked colt races for Supers More Evil Than The Evil Empire stables based over at Del\/Penn National. After a span of some races running on the turf last year as a 3 year old this colt has accerted himself on the dirt with 7 straight triple digit speed ratings capped by a lifetime high 115 mark last time out while winning a 7.5 furlong AK overnite stake. He hopes to redeem himself from his previous Graded disappointment 2 starts back in today’s race. In order to do so he will have to be able to stay up in a close stalking position form the leaders which is the style he runs best as if he falls to far back early the race may be over for him before it gets to the halfway point. The rider for today’s race will be Cunningham (15.4%).\u00a0 PROJECTED SPEED RATING—110<\/STRONG>.<\/P> 4)ROCKIAVELLIAN(JPN)—13\/1—<\/STRONG>fatattack2 sends this 4 year old colt out of ROCK OF GIBRALTAR(IRE) with a record of 12-7-2-0 and lifetime earnings of $192,905. This 115th divisional ranked colt races for Lone Star Racing based over at Del\/Penn National. While this colt won his last start, a 7.5 furlong overnite stake in SP it was still along way from recouping the $5,608,000 that was paid for this one at auction just prior to that last start. He comes into this contest with back to back stake wins as he makes his Graded stake debut today. He is one of 3 apparent frontrunners in the race but is probably the best of them and he will surely try to get the jump on the field and hopefully be able to fend off the late comes in what will surely be an exciting stretch drive. His top speed rating mark of 113 puts him in the mix of things today. The rider for today’s race will be Rolling (10%).\u00a0 PROJECTED SPEED RATING—111.<\/STRONG><\/P> 5)DONTUSEMEAGAIN(KY)—14\/1—<\/STRONG>doctahg2 sends this 4 year old colt out of CRAFTY PROSPECTOR with a record of 19-6-7-2 and lifetime earnings of $274,920. He is out of the mare FIRST BICUSPID who was 4\/22 at the track and who has 4 foals on record, all winners including this stakes winning colt. This 241st divisional ranked colt races for Doctahg’s No Dentition stables based at Del\/Penn National. With the exception of a few starts late in his 2 year old season this colt has raced exclusively in allowance company until he went on a mini win streak off late. He enters this race having won 3 in a row including an overnite stake in OR where he posted a lifetime best 115 speed rating over the 6.5 furlong race. He is another who likes to press the pace and may be the one to push the horse directly inside of him at the gate early in the race. Can he handle the class rise for his first Graded start today and can he last the entire 7 furlongs at this level still remains to be seen. The rider for today’s race will be Israel (0%).\u00a0 PROJECTED SPEED RATING—108<\/STRONG>.<\/P> 6)HAPPY A—15\/1—<\/STRONG>noble sends this 5 year old horse out of A.P. INDY with a record of 25-8-0-2 and lifetime earnings of $243,046. He is out of the he-mare HAPPY GERONIMO who was 13\/75 at the track. This 99th divisional ranked horse races for the unafilliated noble stables. This veteran allowance campaigner finally became a stakes winner last time out when he won a FL overnite sprint stakes posting a lifetime best 112 speed rating over the 6.5 furlong race. His only previous Graded race run was a 9th place finish in a SC Grade I but he was less than 5 length back at the wire. This closer will probably sit midpack early but it still needs to be determined whether he can compete at this level which is why he has been listed as a longshot in the early line here today. The rider for today’s race will be Smith (6.7%).\u00a0 PROJECTED SPEED RATING—100<\/STRONG>.<\/P> 7)MONEYGROWSONTRESS—9\/1—<\/STRONG>cheadle sends this 5 year old horse out of FORESTRY with a record of 27-8-6-3 and lifetime earnings of $921,460. He is out of the mare MISS CARBY who was 1\/19 at the track and who has 3 foals on record, all winners including this Graded stakes winning horse. This 26th divisional ranked horse races for the Desperado stables based over at the GR Simsters. This horse is a 5 time Graded stakes winner including The Grade I Prince’s Knight Stakes in Texas in August of 2006. Of late he is a consistant stakes runner and enters this race of a 2nd place Grade II finish in N California where he posted a lifetime best 114 speed rating. This closer has an abundance of big race experience and can throw a big race at any time as seen by his PP’s and would not be a surprise to take it all here today. The rider for today’s race will be Haffner (3.5%).\u00a0 PROJECTED SPEED RATING—109<\/STRONG>.<\/P> 8)BARB’S CARD SHARK—18\/1—<\/STRONG>barbheff send this 5 year old horse out of BRAHMS with a record of 24-8-1-5 and lifetime earnings of $158,084. This 485th divisional ranked horse races for the JakeMatt stables based over at Del\/Penn National. This horse suffered thru a 10 race winless streak prior to 2 starts ago when he dropped down to the allowance ranks. That tactic worked as he has won back to back starts since and his connections hope that has built this horses confidence up so that he can compete in this Grade I contest today. His only other stake win came in an overnite sprint in the slop in July of 2006 so this may be a tough task to ask of this one here today. His top speed rating of 108 is below the speed of many in the race but this will be a good test to see how he can close against the top of his class here today. The rider for today’s race will be Coomer (9.1%).\u00a0 PROJECTED SPEED RATING—99.<\/STRONG><\/P> 9)SEEKING POWER(KY)—14\/1—<\/STRONG>elenalog sends this 4 year old mare out of SEEKING THE GOLD with a record of 15-4-1-3 and lifetime earnings of $216,628. This 30th divisional ranked mare races out of the elenalog stables, proud supporters of the Bargain Bred Racing Series. After winning The Grade II Distaff BB Cap right here in NY last time out her connections have decided to keep her stabled here and try a test against the boys in this Grade I sprint today. This will be her first stake start in open company in her career albeit she does have a win in open allowance company from last summer. Can she duplicate her 113 speed rating from last time out again here today, that is the question and as was seen in last years BB it is not impossible for the girls to compete with the boys of late. In any event she will sit way back early and should be charging hard down the stretch if she is able to keep her mind on business and not on all the studs running around her in the race. The rider for today’s race will be Migliore (12.1%).\u00a0 PROJECTED SPEED RATING—104.<\/STRONG><\/P> 10)KETCH(KY)—6\/1—<\/STRONG>bigskyfarm sends this 4 year old colt out of AWESOME AGAIN with a record of 21-9-5-1 and lifetime earnings of $738,878. He is out of the mare IRONHORSE AWARD who was 9\/38 at the track and who has 4 foals on record of which 3 are winners including this Graded stake winning colt. This 4th divisional ranked colt races for the Lilbitfarm stables based in Vermont at The Pastures of Green. If this colt can duplicate his 2nd last start with his 120 speed rating performance at VT then I think you can say this race is over. He did the inevitable bounce after that big performance last time out but was still rallying to finish 4th in Northern California and I think his recent performance suggests that he is at or very nearly back to his form from last spring\/summer when he finished in the top 2 for 8 straight races. Look for this one to be closing late in the race from the back of the pack and barring any severe traffic problems should be the one to beat in this race today. The rider for today’s race will be Lawton (26.2%).\u00a0 PROJECTED SPEED RATING—117.<\/STRONG><\/P> 11)MAGICAL MERLIN—9\/1—<\/STRONG>lordbyron sends this 5 year old horse out of SMARTY JONES with a record of 27-10-5-1 and lifetime earnings of $899,325. He is out of the he-mare CLAIRVOYANT who was 4\/46 at the track. This 97th divisional ranked horse is based out of the CR Racers sim residency. This horse was one of the top’s of his class as a 2 year old winning 3 Graded races including a Grade I that season but could not keep up that pace as a 3 year old which ended up eventually having him switched to the turf for over a year in his career. He has been back racing on the dirt now since last July winning a pair of overnite stakes events since that time. He rallied to finish 2nd in a C1 Grade II last time out but will have to face several of the foes that beat him in that race again here today. He is another closer who will be fighting for racing room late and will have to have to pick it up here a bit to be considered a top 3 contender today. He did post a top speed rating of 114 in FL 3 start back and if he could find that race at this class today, that would be a positive influence in giving this horse a shot here. The rider for today’s race will be Foster (9.5%).\u00a0 PROJECTED SPEED RATING—<\/STRONG>108.<\/P> 12)CHRONIC ADDICTION—7\/1—<\/STRONG>pjlracing sends this 5 year old horse out of GONE WEST with a record of 24-10-4-2 and lifetime earnings of $316,735. This 28th divisional ranked hores races for Pedro’s Racing Empire based at the EAAA racing residency. This horse has come into his own lately having posted triple digit speed ratings in his last 10 fast track starts. He beat several of those here today in The Grade III Pablo Cruz Handicap in Northern California while posting a 117 speed rating 2 starts back and while his rating dropped last time out he still came out on top in a CN overnite sprint to prep for this Grade I start today. His midpack closing style may give him a slight advantage in that he will be closer to the front runners when the running begins down the stetch and he looks to be the sharpest of the lot coming of his 3 wins in a row entering this contest today. The rider for today’s race will be Israel (13.3%).\u00a0 PROJECTED SPEED RATING—112.<\/STRONG><\/P> 13)ANTIQUE GOLD(KY)—15\/1—<\/STRONG>pureluck sends this 4 year old colt out of SEEKING THE GOLD with a record of 11-4-5-0 and lifetime earnings of $167,065. He is out of the mare TIDE W. who was 0\/6 at the track and who has 2 foals on record with this stakes winning colt the only winner to date. This 203rd divisional ranked colt races for an independent and unafilliated stable. This colt will be spotting many alot of experience in this race today as he makes his Graded stakes debut in what looks to be a pretty tough spot. He did wire a field in a CO sprint stake for his only added money event so far in his career. He is very quick out of the gate and if anything shoud challenge the other frontrunners inside of him and could perhaps force a strong early pace much to the delight of the many late running closers in this field. His top speed rating of 110 while very competitive will probably be needed to be bested for any win chance hopes today. Still this race could prove to be a very good learning experience for what is assuredly going to be a very successfull season for this colt. The rider for today’s race will be Steff (9.8%).\u00a0 PROJECTED SPEED RATING—107.<\/STRONG><\/P> 14)K’S STATE OF MIND—6\/1—<\/STRONG>vertigo2 sends this 6 year old horse out of STORM CAT with a record of 35-14-7-4 and lifetime earnings of $884,676. This 7th divisional ranked horse races for Ledwith Pompeya Thoroughbred Racing Corporation based over at the Hispano Parlante Racing residency. This veteran campaigner is a Graded winner when he won a Grade II sprint in CA last summer. He won his debut race this year in SP in a overnite sprint stake and came up just short when he rallied to a 2nd place finish in The Grade III Toboggan Handicap in NJ last month. His 113 speed rating was just one shy of his lifetime mark suggesting this guy is at the top of his game right now. While he has raced on the front end before in his career he has been closing lately, a style he will probably use today from the extreme outside post in this field. Can he beat the top ones here today, probably on a top effort but he should be a certaintly for cashing a cheque form the Grade I purse here today. The rider for today’s race will be Child (13.7%).\u00a0 PROJECTED SPEED RATING—112.<\/STRONG><\/P> While I may be a bit stubborn in my handicapping of this race that 120 posted by KETCH still looms large in my mind and for that reason I like him in today’s race. He has already had his semi bounce race last time out and has proven before that he can string a group of top efforts together.<\/P> GOOD LUCK AND GOOD RACING<\/P> THEO<\/P><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" WILL KETCH BE ABLE TO CATCH THEM ALL IN THE STETCH DRIVE TODAY<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":419,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5729","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5729","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/419"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5729"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5729\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5729"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5729"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5729"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}